How we get involved

What happens first?

When we’re first contacted, a social worker will ask questions about what’s happening and assess what should happen next.

This includes considering the urgency of the concern, finding out more about what might be happening, and deciding whether we need to be involved, or if there are people in the community who are better placed to help.

Child and family assessment

Ifwe're worried that a child's wellbeing could be at risk, we undertake an assessment to find out more about what's happening.

One of our social workers will visit the child, their family or caregiver. They will also talk to people connected with the family or whānau, to find out more about the situation. We then make a decision about what to do next.

In some situations – where the concerns are serious and may constitute a criminal offence – we work in partnership with the Police and they’ll investigate things further.